Burial device.



UNITE STATES T ATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD R. KINNEY, OF COLDl/VATER, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNCR TO THE NATIONALBURIAL DEVICE COMPANY, OF COLDIVATER, MICHIGAN.

BURYIAL DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,948, dated May 27,1902. Application filed October 28. 1899. Serial No. 735,058. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD R. KINNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Goldwater, in the county of Branch and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BurialDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic releasing devicesfor burial apparatus, and is designed particularly for use in connectionwith that class of burial apparatus described in the patent to myself,granted on the 8th day of August, 1899, No. 630,459, and to myself andGardner I. Barnard,which patent was issued on the 5th day of July, 1898,No. 606,722, although it is adapted for use in various other relations.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide an automaticreleasing device which shall be certain in its action and not liable tobecome accidentally detached; second, to pro vide sucha device simple inits structure and operation.

Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description tofollow. g

I accomplish these objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in this specification.

The invention is clearly defined, and pointed out in the claims. V

The structure embodying my invention is fully illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure l is an enlarged detail view of my automatic detaching device.Fig. 2 is a detail sectional elevation, taken through my automaticdetaching device when in use in relation to the box or casket, taken ona line corresponding to line 1 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailperspective view of my automatic detaching device, showing the same asit appears after it has become automatically detached.

In the drawings the sectional view is taken looking in the direction ofthe little arrows at the ends of the section-lines, and similar lettersof reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A B are apair ofoppositely-facing hooks. D D are lowering bands or cords,whieh connectthese hooks to the lowering apparatus. E is the box or casket to belowered. The engaging portions of the hooks engage with each other atslight angles to the perpendicular to make the engagement secure,portions being bended up for the entire width of the hooks, as A and B,for this purpose. The hook is protected on its under side and oppositethe engaging portion thereof with a shield B, the shield and hook beingformed from a continuous piece of sheet metal folded into the formindicated and having the hook formed on the upper side, hooking downwardand inward, and the lower portion curved to formthe shield B". Theseparts are re tained in position by rivets i, on which are placedsuitable sleeves between the upper and lower portion on this hook. LinksC, which move freely in each of the hooks A B, are secured thereto, andto these links are secured the webbing-bands, cords, or other means forlowering the coffin into a grave. The operation of this portion of thedevice is such that when supported in the position shown in Fig. 1 theends of the loweringtapes are joined'very securely together, it beingimpossible to disengage the same by merely applying pressure thereto.When the coffin or casket is lowered into the grave and comesto restupon the oross-pieces in the bottom of the coffin-box below, so that thepressure is relieved upon the lowering-bands, then the hooks drop apartautomatically. The portion B" of the hook B rests against the bottom ofthe coffin-box, and as soon as the pressure is slackened the rearportion drops downward, throwing the hook B upward, permitting the hookA to drop down onto the shield B, and so disengaging, when the bands canbe immediately withdrawn. Where no coffin-box is used, the shieldportion B serves the same purpose of supportingthe hookB in an elevatedposition and also prevents the hook A being accidentally supported intheengaging position by any obstacles in'the bottom of the grave. V

I have shown my invention in'the form I believe to be most practical. Idesire to state,

however, that it is capable of considerable variation in the details ofconstruction without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a burial device, the combination of the lowering belts or bands; abroad hook A made of sheet metal Witha turned-up engaging portion A; abroad hook B of sheet metal with a downwardly-turned engaging portion B,the metal being folded to form a shield B below the engaging-point ofthe hook B, a greater distance than the length of the engaging portion Aof the hook A, coacting as specified.

2. In a burial apparatus, the combination with lowering straps or cords;of a hook having an upwardly-projecting engaging portion on one of saidstraps or cords; and a hook on the opposite cord having adownwardly-projecting portion to support its point in an elevatedposition to permit the disengagement of the first hook when the tensionis slackened.

3. In a burial apparatus, the combination of the lowering straps orcords; of a member having a downwardly-pointing hook portion; anopposite member having a hook adapted to engage said hook portion; and asupport to hold the hook portion of said first member in an elevatedposition when the same is resting on the ground or floor, whereby saidhooks will be disengaged when tension is slackened on the straps, forthe purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two wit- DGSSGS.

RICHARD R. KINNEY. Witnesses:

H. H. BARLOW, J OSIE GILLESPIE.

